Service week shows 'Kommunity Karing'

The last week has been a busy one for Kappa Alpha Psi, as the fraternity participated in "Karing for the Kommunity," a week of service opportunities and events for the campus.\nSenior Jeremy Morris, the group's keeper of records, said the week was a chance for the group to "wake up" the Bloomington community. \n"We're trying to have diverse programming for all of campus so that people can learn to be involved," Morris said. "The interest around Bloomington was a little dead, so we decided to wake it up a little."\nThe group, fresh off a sweep of the National Pan-Hellenic Council awards, planned food drives, an ice-skating outing and a forum entitled "Minorities in Graduate School and Corporate America." The group was recently named IU chapter of the year by the NPHC, as well as being awarded president of the year, junior of the year and outstanding scholastic collaboration. Overall, the group took home 11 awards.\nOntario Wooden, a doctoral student in higher education, participated as a panelist in the group's forum. Wooden, a former Kappa Alpha Psi member, said the discussion session was a chance to give back to the campus.\n"Greek men in organizations have a responsibility to the campus on which they reside," Wooden said. "Fraternities have a responsibility to the campus to do more than provide parties or step shows, but to provide service and educational opportunities." \nWooden said the forum served to make students aware of the educational opportunities that exist after their undergraduate education is complete.\nMorris said possibly the most important event was the canned food drive. The group's canned food drive runs from Nov. 1 to Nov. 27 and segues into the "Christmas with the Kappas" program in December.\nPresident Denard Wilson said the week was a success, but they are glad the work is over. \n"I think it went well. We offered a variety of opportunities," Wilson said. \nWilson also said the mix of social and service opportunities was important, because it catered to different students' needs. KAPsi co-sponsored a Late Night with Union Board and had several social events scattered toward the end of the week.\n-- Contact staff writer Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu.